Bertie changes schedule

andyp

pedro118118 wrote:

What about a tennis-style system where teams/riders are obliged to earn 'ranking' points in other events to secure qualification, like in the Grand Slams? This would focus the mind, instead of the big ProTour teams sitting back in the smug knowledge that qualification is a formality.

We had that before which meant that a) sponsors left the sport because there was no way of guaranteeing an entry to the Tour de France and b) a doping culture was established that we're still seeing the effects of today.

pedro118118

andyp wrote:

pedro118118 wrote:

What about a tennis-style system where teams/riders are obliged to earn 'ranking' points in other events to secure qualification, like in the Grand Slams? This would focus the mind, instead of the big ProTour teams sitting back in the smug knowledge that qualification is a formality.

We had that before which meant that a) sponsors left the sport because there was no way of guaranteeing an entry to the Tour de France and b) a doping culture was established that we're still seeing the effects of today.

Mmm.........fair point.

I've changed my mind, what about a WWF Wrestling-style system where it's all carefully choriographed to acheive maximum suspense, exposure and value for money? We could case Tom Boonen as The Undertaker and Big Tex as the ageing legend, a la Pretty Box Rick Flair..............................or Big Daddy depending on optinion.

Easy.............easy..............easy..............easy..............easy..............easy..............

blackpanther

Im sure the shack will be on song come July, thats when they need to fly, for the Americans its the only race that matters.

moray_gub

RichN95 wrote:

micron wrote:

By your standards, the England football team should drop Steven Gerrard because he's not been on top form for a few months and replace him with Charlie Adam because he was the Championship Player of the Month for January.

If it was Sastre or Menchov leading RS, instead of Armstrong, then no one would think twice about their inclusion.

+1

You have hit the nail right on the head there

deejay

blackpanther wrote:

Im sure the shack will be on song come July, thats when they need to fly, for the Americans its the only race that matters.

Everything back to the 21st century normal then.?

How many days racing did he do in the 7 years ??
Sorry the answer is easy as all you do is count the time trials and the rest of the time was wheel sucking the peloton and his own team. (well that's what he pays them for aint it.)

Have you answered why he ever came back.

moray_gub

deejay wrote:

blackpanther wrote:

Im sure the shack will be on song come July, thats when they need to fly, for the Americans its the only race that matters.

Everything back to the 21st century normal then.?

How many days racing did he do in the 7 years ??
Sorry the answer is easy as all you do is count the time trials and the rest of the time was wheel sucking the peloton and his own team. (well that's what he pays them for aint it.)

Have you answered why he ever came back.

Some good examples of wheel sucking here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiCIJ2JewPE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F94TCxLYZew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6DmNMGEuI0

Terrible aint it imagine using your team like other TDF winners then blasting off yourself to nail a win or take chunks of time and then subsequently win the TDF..............keep saying this but the LA angle never ceases to amaze me how it makes posters talk sh ite.

blackpanther

deejay wrote:

blackpanther wrote:

Im sure the shack will be on song come July, thats when they need to fly, for the Americans its the only race that matters.

Everything back to the 21st century normal then.?

How many days racing did he do in the 7 years ??
Sorry the answer is easy as all you do is count the time trials and the rest of the time was wheel sucking the peloton and his own team. (well that's what he pays them for aint it.)

Have you answered why he ever came back.

In fairness he did the biz when he had to, and his main opponent Ullrich did the same. It became boring because it was formulaic.

csp

Could someone sum up which riders have changed their schedules and for what reasons?

dulldave

csp wrote:

Could someone sum up which riders have changed their schedules and for what reasons?

Here goes.

Lance originally had a pre-tour schedule that seemed a little strange. Some argued that it was chosen to avoid meeting Contador before the tour.

Now Contador has changed his schedule to include the Criterium International (takes place this weekend). This is a race that Lance had announced he was going to ride. A few days after Contador's change of schedule, Lance pulls out of Milan San-Remo (last weekend) quoting acute gastroenteritis (sp?) despite giving a rather long radio interview on the day Bruyneel announced this.

We'll see if Armstrog turns up for the Criterium International or not. My guess is he won't. Incidentally I don't think it's because he's bottling it. I think he's trying to keep up the PR value of their coming together at the tour. Meeting beforehand might just show how much of a non-contest its going to be at the tour.